Cowgirls roll past Montana

UW-Montana boxscore

by Bobby Abplanalp
Wyoming Sports.org

The Wyoming Cowgirls never trailed and used a 17-2 run to end the first half and ran by the Montana Lady Grizzlies 68-38 Sunday afternoon in the Arena-Auditorium.

Wyoming is now 2-0 on the young season after earning a hard fought 65-62 win over the Denver Pioneers on the road Friday night.

Montana, the defending Big Sky champion, drops to 0-2 after a season opening 72-64 defeat on the road to Colorado State Friday night.

The Cowgirls used tough defense to stifle the Lady Grizzlies shooting, holding them to 18.9 percent in the first half, as Wyoming shot 45.7 perent, leading 39-17 at the break.

The rout continued in the second half, as the Cowgirls led by as many as 38 points before Montana would score the last eight points for the final margin.

The Cowgirls also dominated the glass with a 49-35 rebounding advantage, won the assist battle 21-6 and the bench outscored Montana bench 23-9.

“This is a rarity when you have a score of this nature,” UW head coach Joe Legerski said. “Montana over the years wins and wins at an alarming rate (Montana beat Wyoming 71-64 last year in Missoula). They have young players right now and they a great player that is going to be back this week that is sitting out with injury, so I’m very happy with how we played today.”

Forward Emma Langford led a balanced attack with 13 points, with true freshman Chaundra Sewell chipping in 11.

“Chaundra (Sewell) has great energy and a great competitiveness and drive to succeed,” Legerski said. “She goes after every loose ball and really works hard, and she’s learning how to play. I think she’s learning what it’s about to play at this level and that’s what’s important.”

Sewell said her experience as a Cowgirl has been an adjusting one, but is really starting to get a grasp on playing at the Division I level.

“It’s still kind of strange to me to be in a big arena with all the fans screaming,” she said. “It’s a lot more difficult than high school, but I’m getting use to it and loving it.”

The Cowgirls will head to the North Dakota next week, facing North Dakota at 6 p.m., in Grand Forks on Wednesday, followed by a visit to Fargo to take on the North Dakota State Bison Friday at 5 p.m.